DAVID COLLINS, WBAL-TV 11 NEWS . AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY HAS BEEN ORDERED TO PAY UP AFTER FIREFIGHTERS DEEMED WHAT IS BEING CALLED A SECURITY MEASURE UNSAFE. OFFICIALS SAY THEY EXPOSE THE BRIDGE DURING AN EMERGENCY CALL. BARRY SIMMS HAS THE DETAILS LIVE FROM DOWNTOWN. FOR HAVING FIVE PADLOCKED DOORS, THE ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY WAS FINED $2500 AND NOW THE STATE AGENCY THAT REGULATES THOSE AGENCIES -- THOSE FACILITIES, IT IS NOW CONDUCTING ITS OWN INVESTIGATION. AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL CALL LED TO THE DISCOVERY. BALTIMORE CITY PARAMEDICS AND POLICE FOUND ANOTHER SERIOUS SITUATION AT THE ROYAL HEART ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY IN THE 3600 BLOCK OF WHITE AVENUE. FIVE EXIT DOORS PADLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE. IT IS SERIOUS. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR THE REASON. WHEN PEOPLE NEED TO VACATE A PROPERTY FOR WHATEVER REASON, WHETHER IT IS FIRE, SMOKE, CARBON MONOXIDE, IT IS MUCH EASIER IF YOU HAVE DOORS THAT HAVE, SAY, MAYBE A PANIC DOOR THAT YOU CANNOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE BUT YOU CAN PUSH OPEN. RESCUE CREWS FOUND THE PADLOCKED DOORS SUNDAY MORNING. THEY CUT THE LOCKS AND GOT A FIRE INSPECTOR TO COME TO THE FACILITY. IT SLOWS DOWN THE TIME THAT IT YOU NEED TO GET OUT AND CAN CAUSE DEATH OR FURTHER INJURY. ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VULNERABLE AT ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES, IT IS UNACCEPTABLE. WE TRY TO CONTACT THE MANAGERS AND OWNERS OF ROYAL HEART ASSISTED LIVING. HOW ARE YOU DOING? I'M HERE WITH CHANNEL 11. WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO SEE -- TRY TO TALK TO THE OWNER OF THE MANAGER. NOW THE STATE IS INVESTIGATING, SENDING INSPECTORS. YOU ENTRUST YOUR LOVED ONES TO THEIR CARE AND THE LAW DOES NOT ALLOW THEM TO DO THIS. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE INSPECTORS ON CALL TO COME IN 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK GIVE THERE IS A VIOLATION AND WE CAN DEBATE -- ABATE THE SITUATION AND MAKE A CITATION AND HOPEFULLY PUT AN END TO IT. GET THE OPERATORS TO DEVELOP A NEW POLICY FOR SECURING THEIR FACILITY. STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THEIR INVESTIGATION BEGAN SUNDAY. IT IS ONGOING AND THEY WILL NOT MAKE ANY COMMENT UNTIL IT

A bizarre situation is unfolding in Baltimore in which people are paying rent to a landlord who claims he's helping fill the need for affordable housing, but there are serious questions about the living conditions inside, as well as who actually owns the homes.